Rope-clamp.



No. MUAW.

Patented Ban. 2, I900]. E. F. RIGBY.

ROPE CLAMP.

(Application filed M5112, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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ROPE CLA P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,416, dated January2, 1900 Application filed March 2, 1899. Serial No. 707,537. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom, 7220p concern:

Be it known that l, CLARK F. RIGBY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mannington, in the county of Marion and State of WestVirginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rope-Clamps, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to drill-rope clamps, and has reference to animproved clamp particularly adapted for wire cables.

The object of the invention is to provide a clamp which can be quicklyapplied and which will automatically grip the cable and proportion itshold to the weight sustained, avoiding danger of slipping.

The invent-ion consists in the novel features of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed andillustrated by the accompanying drawings, in whicl1- Figure l is avertical sectional View of the improved clamp,the parts above the topplane of the clamp-block being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is anelevation of the clamp. Fig. 3 is a plan view. Fig. a is a detail viewof one of the slip-heads. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view.

1 is a block having a downwardly-tapering bore 2 and the vertical sideslot or incision 3. In opposite sides of the block are verticalapertures at to receive eyebolts 5, and the latter are connected bylinks 6 to swivel-head 7 of tempenscrew S. Arranged to work in blockbore2 are the oppositely-positioned downwardly-tapering concave-convex slips9 and 10. The head of slip 9 is projected laterally at 9' over block 1and is apertured to play vertically on bolt 11. The position of slip 9is opposite incision 3 of the block 1. Head 10 of slip 10 overhangsblock 1 and is curved and grooved on its top edge, as shown at 16.

12 is a clamp secured by-removable bolt 12' to the outer portion of head10, spanning the curved edge of the latter. The clamp is applied whilecable 13 hangs suspended in the derrick, first having removed slip 10 topermit the cable to enter slot 3. Slip 10 is then inserted and the cabletightly gripped between the slips by means of set-screw 14, workingthrough block 1 behind slip 9. Clam p 12 being removed and with thedepending portion of the rope sustained by the temperscrew, the rope orcable is unwound from the bull-wheel sulliciently to give working slackbetween the crown-pulley and clamp. The cable is then bent down into thecurved and grooved edge 16 of slip-head 10, after which clamp 12 isreplaced and tightened upon the cable. Set-screw l t is then retracted,throwing the entire Weight of the suspended cable on slips 9 and 10, andthe taper of the latter, in conjunction with tapering bore 2 of theblock, effectually wedges and secures the cable, the greater the weightthe more secure being the hold. Clamp 12 is for the purpose of bindingthe cable to slip 10, so that if for any reason the cable should slipbetween the slips 9 and 10 -the cable itself will draw slip 1O fartherinto the tapering bore and arrest such movement.

The curved slip-head 10 forms a convenient turn for feeding the slack ofthe somewhat-unwieldy cable through the clamp, and. the yoke of clamp 12retains the cable thereon. Toremove the clamp, small clamp 12 is removedand the slack in the cable taken up on the bull-wheel, relieving thetemper-screw of the weight, and to loosen the engagement of the slips asmall wedge is driven between the top surface of block 1 and slip-head10, thereby readily disengaging slip 10, and upon its removal the clampmay be passed off the cable through blocL-incision 3.

The weight of the cable is borne by the block, which has direct swivelconnection with the temper-screw. Heretofore it has been usual tosustain the weight by connecting the slips directly to the swivel, thussubjecting them to strain and danger of breaking, which in my improvedclamp are avoided.

The clamp is simple and very durable and capable of quick and easymanipulation.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved clamp for well-drilling cablescomprisingablockhavingaverticalbore, slips operative therein to securethe cable, and a guide carried by one of the slips over which the cablepasses to position between the slips, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a clamp for welldrilling cables, the combination of a temper-screwswivel, a block suspended therefrom, said block having a tapering' bore,curved and tapering slips operative in the block-bore for securing thecable, one of the slips being removable and provided at its upper endwith a cable-guide, and means for limiting the movement of the otherslip, substantially as shown and described.

3. An improved clamp for well-drilling cables comprising a block havinga vertical bore, slips operative therein to secure the cable, a guideforthe cable carried by one of the slips, and a clamp on the guide fortemporarily securing the cable, for the purpose described.

' 4. An improved clamp for well-drilling cables comprising a blockhaving a vertical bore, slips operative therein, one of the slips beingprojected outward'at its upper end and apertured vertically, a bolt onthe block on which the apertured slip projection is confined forlimiting the longitudinal movement of said slip, and alaterally-projecting cable guide at the upper end of the other slip,substantially as shown and described.

5. An improved rope-clamp comprising a block having a vertical bore,slips operative, therein to secure the cable, one of the slips beingprovided with an overhanging curved head which forms a guide over whichthe cable passes, substantially as shown and described.

6. An improved rope-clamp comprising a block having a vertical bore,slips operative therein to secure the cable, one of the slips beingprovided with an overhanging curved head which forms a guide over whichthe cable passes, and means for confining the cable on the slip-head,substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

OLA RK F. RIGBY.

\Vituesses:

GEO. T. LITTLE, A. A. J. GAsKILL.

